Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .-
As part of his comments of the Psalms and Canticles for Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours, Pope John Paul explained Psalm 140, “Prayer in times of danger” during the general audience celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. Speaking to some 18,000 pilgrims, the Pontiff said that Psalm 140 “reflects the spirit of prophetic theology that intimately unites worship and life, prayer and existence.

Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .- The Church’s mediation commission that is working to free 7 tourists who were kidnapped September 12 in the northern mountains of Columbia hopes to establish contact again with representatives of the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) to restart negotiations that will bring the crisis to an end.

Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .- The Spanish government has announced it will not join a block of European countries that is seeking to keep the United Nations from passing a total ban on human cloning for “therapeutic” reasons. The World Body will vote this Thursday on a proposal by Costa Rica to prohibit all types of cloning.

Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .- The opposition to the ordination of the first openly gay bishop in the United States this week isn’t about sex but about Scripture, said Canon Kendall Harmon of South Carolina, a leading voice in the opposition to gay ordination.

Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .- Episcopal leaders are scrambling to address the requests of two New Hampshire churches to become part of another diocese, following the ordination of an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire this week.

Nov 5, 2003 - 12:00 am .- Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to boost relations between the Orthodox and Catholic churches in Russia with his second visit to the Vatican today. His visit coincides with a trip to Rome for a Russia-European Union summit.